Comparative analysis of reproductive tactics in the genus Cardiocondyla DISSERTATION ZUR ERLANGUNG DES DOKTORGRADES DER NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN (DR. RER. NAT.) DER FAKULTÄT FÜR BIOLOGIE UND VORKLINISCHE MEDIZIN DER UNIVERSITÄT REGENSBURG vorgelegt von Sabine Frohschammer aus Regensburg im Jahr 2015 Comparative analysis of reproductive tactics in the genus Cardiocondyla DISSERTATION ZUR ERLANGUNG DES DOKTORGRADES DER NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN (DR. RER. NAT.) DER FAKULTÄT FÜR BIOLOGIE UND VORKLINISCHE MEDIZIN DER UNIVERSITÄT REGENSBURG vorgelegt von Sabine Frohschammer aus Regensburg im Jahr 2015 Das Promotionsgesuch wurde eingereicht am: 13.02.2015 Die Arbeit wurde angeleitet von Prof. Dr. J. Heinze Unterschrift: Manuscripts that contributed to this Thesis and Author’s contribution Chapter 1 Cardiocondyla pirata sp. n.–a new Philippine ant with enigmatic pigmentation pattern (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Seifert, B., & Frohschammer, S. (2013). ZooKeys, (301), 13. Personal contribution: Discovery of the species; collection of one colony and their maintenance in laboratory. Chapter 2 Male fighting and “territoriality” within colonies of the ant Cardiocondyla venustula. Frohschammer, S., & Heinze, J. (2009). Naturwissenschaften, 96(1), 159-163. Personal contribution: Discovery of territoriality and observation of nests; planning of experiments together with JH; conduction of experiments; analysis of data together with JH; writing of the manuscript with correction of JH. Chapter 3 In-and Outbreeding in Cardiocondyla kagutsuchi Frohschammer, S., Schrempf, A., Bernadou, A.,& Heinze, J. (2014). Manuscript Personal contribution: Planning of experiments together with JH; conduction of experiments; analysis of data together with AS,AB and JH; writing of the manuscript with correction of JH. Chapter 4 Queen life-span and total reproductive success are positively associated in the ant Cardiocondyla cf. kagutsuchi. Heinze, J., Frohschammer, S., & Bernadou, A. (2013). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 67(10), 1555-1562. Personal contribution: Planning of experiments together with JH; conduction of experiments; collection and preparation of data. Chapter 5 Virgin ant queens mate with their own sons to avoid failure at colony foundation. Schmidt, C. V., Frohschammer, S., Schrempf, A., & Heinze, J. (2014). Naturwissenschaften, 101(1), 69-72. Personal contribution: Discovery of mother – son mating; planning of experiments with JH; conduction of experiments with CS. Chapter 6 A heritable component in sex ratio and caste determination in a Cardiocondyla ant. Frohschammer, S., & Heinze, J. (2009). Frontiers in Zoology, 6(1), 27-33. Personal contribution: Discovery of hint towards heritability of sex ratio; planning of experiments with JH; conduction of experiments; analysis of data together with JH; writing of the manuscript together with JH. Contents General Introduction............................................................................................................1 Fascination about ants....................................................................................................................1 Eusociality and conflicts in ant societies.......................................................................................2 The genus Cardiocondyla..............................................................................................................3 Male mating tactics........................................................................................................................4 Sex determination and inbreeding.................................................................................................5 Inbreeding and outbreeding in Cardiocondyla..............................................................................6 Risk of mating inside the nest........................................................................................................7 Offspring sex ratio in Cardiocondyla............................................................................................8 Summary: Aim of this thesis........................................................................................................10 Chapter 1: Cardiocondyla pirata n.sp. – a new Philippine ant with enigmatic pigmentation pattern (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)...............................................................................................11 Abstract........................................................................................................................................12 Introduction .................................................................................................................................13 Methods........................................................................................................................................13 Recording of morphological data ........................................................................................13 Definition of numeric characters..........................................................................................14 Results .........................................................................................................................................15 Etymology ...........................................................................................................................15 Type material........................................................................................................................15 Description and differential diagnosis..................................................................................16 Discussion....................................................................................................................................22 Chapter 2: Male fighting and “territoriality” in the ant Cardiocondyla venustula...........................25 Abstract .......................................................................................................................................26 Introduction..................................................................................................................................27 Material and Methods..................................................................................................................28 Study organism.....................................................................................................................28 Methods................................................................................................................................28 Results..........................................................................................................................................29 Discussion....................................................................................................................................32 Chapter 3: In- and Outbreeding in Cardiocondyla cf. kagutsuchi *...................................................35 Introduction..................................................................................................................................36 Material and Methods..................................................................................................................38 Results..........................................................................................................................................40 Egg number and wing loss...................................................................................................40 Number of larvae, pupae, worker.........................................................................................41 Sex ratio, maximum worker number....................................................................................42 Lifespan of queens and males..............................................................................................45 Discussion....................................................................................................................................47 Chapter 4: Queen lifespan and total reproductive success are positively associated in the ant Cardiocondyla cf. kagutsuchi..............................................................................................53 Abstract........................................................................................................................................54 Introduction..................................................................................................................................55 Material and Methods..................................................................................................................56 Results .........................................................................................................................................59 Effects of population and colony..........................................................................................59 Lifespan of queens and males..............................................................................................59 Pattern of reproduction.........................................................................................................61 Discussion....................................................................................................................................64 Chapter 5: Virgin ant queens mate with their own sons to avoid failure at colony foundation ......69 Abstract 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